India-Pakistan World T20 match at Dharamshala to go as scheduled: MV Sridhar

The questions hovering over the India-Pakistan World T20 2016 clash on March 19 at Dharamshala, might get an answer as tournament director MV Sridhar said that he was ‘more than hopeful’ about the India and Pakistan match going as per the schedule.

Sridhar gave this statement to the hoards of media persons after the Pakistani delegation that had come to check the security measures in the city had done their inspection. “I am more than hopeful on behalf of the BCCI and on the behalf of the tournament. Whatever the actual status on the ground, has been communicated to the Pakistan team. And now the decision is with them. Obviously, they will also consult their own government, High Commission, based on that they will come back to us,” he told reporters here.

The Pakistani team that has come to check the security measures is led by Director Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Usman Anwar and Pakistan Cricket Board official Azam Khan. The team had crossed over to India via the Attari-Wagah border yesterday.

The problem started when ex-army servicemen of Indian army started protests against the India-Pakistan match happening in Dharamshala and also when the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Virbhadra Singh supported their sentiments. He said that the match should be shifted to a new venue, since the family members of the Indian soldiers killed in the Pathankot attacks, protested the game happening in the city.

“The district administration has very clearly stated that they are committed to giving complete security, not only for the India versus Pakistan match, but for all the matches which are going to be held in Dharamshala.” said Sridhar today while speaking with the press members here.

The final decision on Pakistan team travelling to India will be taken after the Pakistani delegation presents its report to the chief of PCB and the Pakistan interior minister Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan.

Will Team India be the favourites for the World T20? – All the teams have got a fantastic chance to win: MS Dhoni